When life (er, your garden) hands you lots of pumpkins, why not make pumpkin puree! After all, there’s only so many jack-o-lanterns and fall decorations you can use them for.
Fortunately, making your own homemade pumpkin puree is super easy to do and makes for some wholesome, delicious, nutritious, and fresh real food!
Homemade Pumpkin Puree
What You Need
- a pumpkin
- a sharp knife
- a rubber mallet (optional; used only if the pumpkin is being stubborn when cut)
- a strong spoon
- nonstick spray
- a 9×13 or bigger glass baking dish
- cold water
- a sturdy, heat-proof spatula
- a potato masher, food processor, or blender
- spices or other add-ins
- jars with airtight lids
What You Do
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Wash the outside of your pumpkin, turn it onto its side, and cut it in half. If the pumpkin is being stubborn, you can gently tap the knife with a rubber mallet to get it cut open. Try to cut it as evenly in half as possible. Leave the stem on; when it gets soft later, the stem will easily pop off.
- Using a metal spoon, scrape out all the guts, making sure to remove most if not all of the strings. You can separate the seeds and save them to plant the next year or turn them into roasted pumpkin seeds.
- Grease one (or two–depends on the size of the pumpkin) glass baking dish(es) with butter. It is best to use a glass dish because often the metal ones get too hot and can burn the pumpkin.
- Place the pumpkin halves in the dish(es), cut side down.
- Fill the dish halfway with cold water.
- Put the halves in the preheated oven for up to 1-1/2 hour (90 minutes) or until the flesh is the consistency of room temperature butter. The skin will be wrinkly and a burnt orange color and the pumpkin half may sink in a bit.
- Pull off the stem. It should come loose with little effort.
- Using a spatula and an oven mitt, carefully remove one half of the pumpkin.
- Using a spoon and caution as it’ll be very hot, start scooping out the flesh. It’ll be very soft and very easy to remove. It’s easier to remove and puree the pulp when it is hot versus after it’s cooled.
- Start scooping the puree into a food processor. Now is a good time to add any spices or other ingredients that you want. Some ideas include: nutmeg, cinnamon, orange zest, pumpkin pie spice, or a few drops of my DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice Essential Oil Blend. If you don’t have a food processor, mash it with a potato masher or puree with a blender.
- Thoroughly puree the pumpkin then set it aside to cool.
- Once the puree has cooled, scoop it into a labeled freezer safe jar with an airtight lid. Refrigerate and use within 4 days or freeze for up to 6 months.
- Remember to mark your containers with its contents (pumpkin puree, spices, etc.) and the date you prepared it.
How to Use It
This homemade pumpkin puree can be used just like canned pumpkin puree. Just measure how much you need for the recipe at hand. But, be sure to think beyond the pumpkin pie! Here are a few alternate ideas:
- Layered Pumpkin Pie and Cheesecake in a Jar (a healthified Red Lobster copycat recipe)
- Pumpkin Candy Cups
- Pumpkin and Chocolate Pudding Parfait
- pumpkin cheesecake
- pumpkin latte
- baby food (I’d keep it plain if feeding it to your baby)
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Pumpkin Puree
When life (er, your garden) hands you lots of pumpkins, why not make pumpkin puree!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 10 cups
Calories: 25kcal
Ingredients
- pumpkin
- water
- spices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Wash the outside of your pumpkin, turn it onto its side, and cut it in half. If the pumpkin is being stubborn, you can gently tap the knife with a rubber mallet to get it cut open. Try to cut it as evenly in half as possible. Leave the stem on; when it gets soft later, the stem will easily pop off.
- Using a metal spoon, scrape out all the guts, making sure to remove most if not all of the strings. You can separate the seeds and save them to plant the next year or turn them into roasted pumpkin seeds.
- Grease one (or two–depends on the size of the pumpkin) glass baking dish(es) with butter. It is best to use a glass dish because often the metal ones get too hot and can burn the pumpkin.
- Place the pumpkin halves in the dish(es), cut side down.
- Fill the dish halfway with cold water.
- Put the halves in the preheated oven for up to 1-1/2 hour (90 minutes) or until the flesh is the consistency of room temperature butter. The skin will be wrinkly and a burnt orange color and the pumpkin half may sink in a bit.
- Pull off the stem. It should come loose with little effort.
- Using a spatula and an oven mitt, carefully remove one half of the pumpkin.
- Using a spoon and caution as it'll be very hot, start scooping out the flesh. It’ll be very soft and very easy to remove. It’s easier to remove and puree the pulp when it is hot versus after it’s cooled.
- Start scooping the puree into a food processor. Now is a good time to add any spices or other ingredients that you want. If you don’t have a food processor, mash it with a potato masher or puree with a blender.
- Thoroughly puree the pumpkin then set it aside to cool.
- Once the puree has cooled, scoop it into a labeled freezer safe jar with an airtight lid. Refrigerate and use within 4 days or freeze for up to 6 months.
- Remember to mark your containers with its contents (pumpkin puree, spices, etc.) and the date you prepared it.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 25kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g
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